Peace on the Table: Civil Society Initiatives

Peace on the Table: Civil Society Initiatives
Peace on the Table
a summary of demands and proposals for peace from the various actors in the Peace Process

CIVILIAN SOCIETY INITIATIVES

I. COMISIÓN DE CONCILIACIÓN NACIONAL - CCN (COMMISSION ON NATIONAL CONCILIATION)
A. Rapprochement and Good Offices between the Parties Involved in the Internal Armed Conflict
B. Structuring a Permanent National Peace Policy
C. Summons to and Organization of the Civilian Society Assembly for Peace
D. Work with the International Community

II. RED DE INICIATIVAS POR LA PAZ Y CONTRA LA GUERRA. REDEPAZ (NATIONAL NETWORK OF INITIATIVES FOR PEACE AND AGAINST WAR)

III. MANDATO CIUDADANO POR LA PAZ, LA VIDA Y LA LIBERTAD (CITIZENS' MANDATE FOR PEACE, LIFE AND LIBERTY)

IV. DESTINO COLOMBIA (DESTINATION COLOMBIA)

V. COMITÉ DE BÚSQUEDA DE LA PAZ (PEACE-SEEKING COMMITTEE)

VI. UNIÓN SINDICAL OBRERA - USO (UNITED LABORERS' TRADE UNION)
A. Organization for Peace
B. Proposals for the Political Settlement of the Conflict

VII. CONSEJO GREMIAL (COUNCIL OF ENTREPRENEURS)

VIII. FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE GANADEROS - FEDEGÁN (COLOMBIAN CATTLE BREEDERS' FEDERATION)

IX. PROGRAMA POR LA PAZ - COMPAÑÍA DE JESÚS (PROGRAM FOR PEACE - THE COMPANY OF THE JESUITS)

CIVILIAN SOCIETY INITIATIVES

I. COMISIÓN DE CONCILIACIÓN NACIONAL - CCN (COMMISSION OF NATIONAL CONCILIATION)

The Commission is an autonomous entity, independent from the parties in conflict, established on August 4, 1995 and presided over by Monseigneur Alberto Giraldo Jaramillo, Archbishop of Medellín and President of the Colombian Episcopal Conference.

The Commission has the following objectives:

* To promote a negotiated political settlement of the armed conflict in Colombia and to propose ways to bring the parties to the conflict closer and to reach a settlement between radicalized sectors and groups.

* To search for formulas to overcome difficulties which hinder the parties to the conflict from meeting so that they may start negotiations and thus achieve the successful development of the reconciliation process among Colombians.

* As an expression of human dignity, to promote respect and demand that the human rights of the people living in Colombia be respected and guaranteed as a mechanism toward and basis for a firm, lasting peace.

* To encourage the creation of a culture of peace, through which Colombians may regulate or settle their conflicts in a peaceful manner.

* To foster and demand that the parties to the conflict adjust their conducts and actions to the rules of International Humanitarian Law which are applicable to internal armed conflicts during the confrontation, and reach agreements for the humanization of conflicts that broaden the margins of protection for the civilian population and non combatants.

* To propose the foundations and orientations for a permanent National peace policy that re-conciliates the will of all the sectors and regions of the country and that goes beyond temporary or transient circumstances.

* To foster the active participation of the organized civilian society of Colombia in demanding, following up and verifying the commitments agreed upon in the political peace negotiations, by summoning, accompanying and orienting the Asamblea Permanente de la Sociedad Civil por la Paz (Permanent Civilian Society Assembly for Peace).

In accordance with the aforementioned objectives, the National Reconciliation Commission carries out the following activities:

A. Rapprochement and Good Offices between the Parties Involved in the Internal Armed Conflict.
B. Structuring a Permanent National Peace Policy.

The Commission defines the permanent peace policy as the "plan of action for building peace that shall result from broad national consensus. It shall transcend changes of government and not depend on group interests. It shall have continuity throughout time and in content, ensure lasting peace, contribute to the negotiated political settlement to the armed conflict and take into account the criteria for the human, cultural, economic, political, legal and ecological development which make it possible to build a nation where social justice prevails."⁷⁴

^{In
1996 the National Reconciliation Commission proposed a Permanent National
Peace Policy to the country which would be a continuous, coherent process
for seeking and obtaining peace transcending all immediate situations
and bringing together all sectors and regions that make up the Nation.
It shall be a peace policy whose implementation does not depend on fluctuations
or on the will of a single group, party or government and which extends
beyond four-year presidential terms.}

^{The
adoption of this Permanent National Peace Policy thus supposes the active
organized participation of all the sectors of the Colombian civilian society,
who not only is one of the main victims of the armed conflict, but also
the group that has demanded an end to the violence and consolidation of
peace.}

^{C.
Summons to and Organization of the Civilian Society Assembly for Peace
* July 30 to August 1, 1998}

^{On
September 12, 1997 the National Reconciliation Commission summoned, for
July 1998 the establishment of the Permanent Civilian Society Assembly
for Peace, in compliance with the mandate conferred upon it during the
Assembly for Peace promoted by ECOPETROL, Unión Sindical Obrera
- USO (United Laborers' Trade Unionon) and the Office of the High Commissioner
for Peace. This mandate was ratified afterwards in different regional
and National meetings.}

^{1.
Objectives}

^{The
National Reconciliation Commission proposed the following as the main
objectives of the Permanent Civilian Society Assembly for Peace:}

^{1.
To contribute ideas and documents related to the eventual, concrete peace
agenda for defining a Permanent National Peace Policy, and similarly,
to contribute specific ideas on political reforms needed to neutralize
the factors that result in violence and to guarantee the full enjoyment
of human rights.}

^{2.
To promote and demand the beginning of a dialogue and negotiation process
for settling the internal armed conflict; to support and enrich the peace
agenda with proposals; and to accompany the process in all of its stages
in order to verify compliance to the commitments made.}

^{2.
Nature}

^{The
Permanent Civilian Society Assembly for Peace is not an isolated event.
It is a permanent, open process, already in progress, which has the support
of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, as well as of important trade unions,
professional associations and social organizations. Through this process
the civilian society seeks to work for peace first in villages, municipalities,
departments and then at the National level, through a hierarchical system
of proposals.}

^{The
Assembly shall be pluralist, that is, a body that unites all the cultural,
ethnic, ideological, political, religious, financial and social aspects
of the spectrum that makes up Colombia.}

^{The
Assembly shall be representative, that is, all Colombians, in one way
or another, shall feel part of it.}

^{The
Assembly shall be independent, that is, it shall act freely, without admitting
any type of pressure and without being subject to the will of the armed
actors.}

^{The
Assembly shall be autonomous, that is, its operations shall not be subject
to conditions of any nature nor to financial contributions that compromise
its independence.}

^{These
characteristics that define the nature of the Assembly imply that its
establishment and orientation shall come from the civilian society itself
and not from the State or the actors in the conflict. The Catholic church
shall lead this task, due to its legitimacy, moral leadership, convoking
ability and fairness.}

^{3.
Work Methodology}

^{The
Civilian Society Assembly for Peace is based on two fundamental axes,
one regional and the other sectoral.}

^{As
it is an ongoing process, it organizes forums and seminars in which different
initiatives are calmly discussed, all opinions are considered, plans of
action and specific proposals by representatives of the civilian society
are agreed upon. All of this is based on the construction of the Permanent
National Peace Policy and on forwarding the peace process.}

^{The
work of the Permanent Civilian Society Assembly for Peace is based on
the second version of the document drafted by the National Reconciliation
Commission, entitled "Towards Structuring a Permanent National Peace
Policy", which, as stated in its subtitle, outlines "Contributions
for a Debate".}

^{The
formal opening of the Assembly will take place between July 30 and August
1, 1998. Representatives from all the regions and sectors of the country
shall attend this meeting. In order to guarantee legitimacy, the representatives
shall be democratically elected according to the procedures adopted in
each region or sector.}

^{People
shall attend the meeting to express opinions that have been adopted on
a regional or sectoral level concerning the Permanent National Peace Policy
and the participation of the civilian society in peace building. The work
mechanisms of the Assembly needed for gathering and permanently systematizing
proposals, feeding back information and preparing official documents and
statements for the Assembly shall be proposed and established in this
meeting. In addition, during the meeting the procedures and criteria for
decision-making shall be set forth and the pertaining task forces and
coordination bodies shall be selected.}

^{Since
August 1997 the Promotion Committee, made up of important social organizations,
representatives of trade unions, professional associations, churches and
academic sectors, has been organizing the Assembly.}

^{D.
Work with the International Community}

^{From
its inception, the National Reconciliation Commission has been working
with the international community, insisting on the need for the international
community to actively cooperate in the negotiated political settlement
of the Colombian armed conflict.}

^{II.
RED NACIONAL DE INICIATIVAS POR LA PAZ Y CONTRA LA GUERRA - REDEPAZ
- (NATIONAL NETWORK OF INITIATIVES FOR PEACE AND AGAINST WAR)}

^{REDEPAZ
was founded in 1993 when a group of men and women citizens declared themselves
"peace makers", placing the logic of peace and co-existence
above the logic of war.}

^{In
order to acknowledge and project the idea of cultural diversity, REDEPAZ
has adopted the tropical bird, the macaw, for its symbol. It has mobilized
the Colombian population by promoting the Week for Peace, which
takes place every year. In addition, Redepaz developed a bill of
law to regulate Article 22 of the Colombian Constitution which states
that "peace is a right and a mandatory duty". In 1996, Redepaz
fostered, together with UNICEF, the Children's Mandate for Peace.
In October 1997, Redepaz and many other convoking bodies worked
together to develop broad public opinion to support the Citizens' Mandate
for Peace, Life and Liberty.}

^{REDEPAZ
interprets this mandate as a duty to focus local attention on the political
importance of the results obtained by said mandate at a National level,
by promoting and motivating the citizens' power, a base for building a
new Nation.}

^{REDEPAZ
shall promote the drafting of PEACE CHARTERS, in villages and municipalities,
as a first step towards forming PEACE TERRITORIES. To do so, the active
commitment of the citizens, public and private institutions, new leaders
and the armed actors is required. The Peace Charters shall endorse the
points required by the Mandate and shall incorporate local contents
in REDEPAZ proposals.}

^{As
an expression of the position of the unarmed civilian society which finds
itself amidst conflicting forces, REDEPAZ assumes the task of building
a bridge of trust so as to allow reconciliation to be possible, within
its firm purpose of creating a fair and peaceful nation. In this context,
Redepaz presents Seven Proposals for Total Peace:}

^{A.
To make social justice a reality.

B. To develop a Culture of Peace and of Human Rights.

C. To develop truly democratic institutions.

D. To guarantee the prevalence of Human Rights and compliance with humanitarian
accords while the war lasts.

E. To promote Colombia in the international arena.

F. To encourage a negotiated settlement of the armed conflict.

G. To convene a Peace Constitution Drafting Assembly.}

III. CITIZENS' MANDATE FOR PEACE, LIFE AND LIBERTY

In 1996 thanks to the initiative of REDEPAZ and UNICEF COLOMBIA, the Children's Mandate for Peace was organized. It was backed by a massive public vote of confidence and launched the idea of promoting the Citizens' Mandate for Peace, Life and liberty.

At the beginning of 1997, due to the initiative of REDEPAZ, Fundación País Libre (Foundation for a Free Country) a total Assistance Program for Kidnapped Persons, and UNICEF COLOMBIA, the Citizens' Mandate for Peace, Life and Liberty was organized and important sectors of the Colombian society adhered to it.

Its organizers consider this mandate to be an "action of popular sovereignty which becomes a source of new legitimacy for the unarmed citizen, allowing him or her to declare himself or herself a peace-maker with full capacity and autonomy to obtain peace, regardless of the actors in the armed conflict."

On October 26, 1997, using the so-called peace ballot, around 10,000,000 Colombians voted for peace in a public election. Its organizers consider such voting to be the "sovereign expression of the people's opposition to war", and a "political action which de-legitimizes conflict settlement using military force."

The peace ballot included the following text:

"I commit myself to build Peace and Social Justice, to protect life and reject all violent action and I espouse the Childrens' Mandate for Peace.

I demand the following from the actors in the armed conflict:

NO MORE WAR; settle the armed conflict peacefully.
NO MORE atrocities; respect International Humanitarian Law.
* Do not involve persons under 18 years of age in the war.
* Do not kill.
* Do not kidnap people.
* Do not forcefully disappear people.
* Do not attack people nor force them to flee from their homes.
* Do not include the civilian population in the armed conflict.

According to Camilo González Posso, Coordinator of the Citizens' Mandate for Peace, Life and Liberty, since the October 1997 elections the mandate further proposes:

A. To promote the citizens' commitment to peace.
B. To prepare the citizens' agenda for peace, with inputs leading to initiatives such as the Civilian Society Assembly for Peace.
C. To support citizens' protests against violations of IHL and seek agreements for the actors in the conflict to adopt a minimum code of respect for humanitarian rules.
D. To make a first step for the creation of "Peace Territories", the vote on the Mandate shall be taken into account and the citizens shall show their commitment to the vote by drafting the Peace Charters.
E. To support the organization of the "Mayors' Network for Peace."
F. To turn the schools into "Peace Communities."
G. To support the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize of the children who participated in the first Mandate for Peace in 1996.
H. To prepare a 14 question survey addressed to the presidential candidates for the May 31, 1998 elections; this will take place six months after the peace ballot voting.

IV. DESTINO COLOMBIA (DESTINATION COLOMBIA)

A group of Colombians, including scholars, business and social leaders, decided to implement in Colombia the "Planning by Scenarios" methodology designed by Canadian professor Adam Kahane. This methodology has been successfully applied in countries such as South Africa.

During 14 days, 44 Colombians from all social sectors, including representatives of the armed actors, debated possible future scenarios for Colombia over a 16 year period. The idea was to think about the future of Colombia in a structured manner through an informal exercise. As a result of this activity, four scenarios shall be presented to the public after the second round of Presidential elections.

The dissemination stage of the scenarios is meant to be a didactic exercise in which a series of insights about the peaceful settlement of disputes are generated.

V. COMITÉ DE BÚSQUEDA DE LA PAZ (PEACE-SEEKING COMMITTEE)

According to its leaders, the "Peace-seeking Committee was established in 1994 during the transition from the government of President Cesar Gaviria (1990 - 1994) to the government of Ernesto Samper Pizano (1994 - 1998). The change of administrations implied a change in the interpretation of how to negotiate the settlement of the armed conflict and how to create a State, non-governmental peace policy. Consequently, this led to a change in the emphasis given to the topic. Gaviria's government left the decision to continue a total war policy to the initiative of the incoming government. In turn, Samper's new government intended to open a negotiation process without changing the prior policy. Within this broad framework, an initiative arose to shape a coordinating entity to prepare peace proposals involving all sectors of the society."⁷⁵

^{The
criteria which guide this Committee's activities are collective work,
democratic debate, public deliberations and the systematic commitment
to a negotiated settlement of the armed conflict, and to the preparation
of a National State peace policy.}

^{The
Peace-seeking Committee is made up of National trade Unions (Central
Unitaria de Trabajadores -C U T- [United Association of Workers' Unions],
Confederación General de Trabajadores Democráticos - C G T D - [General
Confederation of Democratic Workers], Confederación de Trabajadores
de Colombia - C T C - [Confederation of Colombian Workers]), NGOs
for Human Rights, and organizations for native indigenous groups, women,
communities, ecology and peasants, and also political leaders.}

^ACTIVITIES

^{A.
Seminar "Total Peace and Civilian Society", organized with REDEPAZ
from June 8- 10, 1995."}

^{B.
VIII National Forum of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights,
from July 11-13, 1996. The motto of this forum was "Peace, Democracy,
Justice and Development."}

^{C.
In the process leading to the creation of the National Peace Council,
the Peace- seeking Committee made a commitment to participate (from 1997
to April 2, 1998) in the discussion, preparation and parliamentary debate,
upon the initiative taken by Defense Minister, Gilberto Echeverri Mejia.}

^{D.
The appeal made to Colombians to support the Citizens' Mandate for
Peace, Life and Liberty was backed by and had the commitment of the
Peace-seeking Committee.}

^{E.
The Committee actively participated in the organization of preparatory
activities of the Forum "Towards a Permanent Peace Policy",
summoned by the National Reconciliation Commission, from September 11-12,
1997.}

^{F.
The Committee takes part in the Promotion Committee which is preparing
the Permanent Civilian Society Assembly, that shall meet in June, 1998.}

^{VI.
UNION SINDICAL OBRERA - USO (UNITED LABORERS' TRADE UNION)}

^{A.
ORGANIZATION FOR PEACE}

^{For
the USO, "The armed conflict has had a serious impact on the Colombian
society which was not given a say on such development, which takes no
active part in it and much less benefits from it. The State public force
and the guerrilla continuously declare that all of their actions are aimed
at the people's well-being. The time has come for a political settlement
and the armed parties, who claim to defend the people, shall accept the
people's point of view and respect their lives. This Movement for Peace
shall be a permanent building process which shall fully express our rich,
diverse political, cultural and social reality. Taking into account regional,
municipal and sectoral characteristics, we propose:}

^{1.
To organize Colombian society to act in favor of peace and persuade
the armed actors that a political settlement is the only viable solution
to the country's conflicts. The Colombian civilian society shall become
a strong interlocutor, respected by the parties to the conflict.}

^{2.
To propose to the parties to the conflict a permanent peace policy to
be assumed by and disseminated to the whole society. The Negotiation
Agenda, the methodology and the participation in the negotiation shall
be the base of this permanent peace policy.}

^{B.
PROPOSALS FOR THE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT}

^{1.
To organize peace.

2. To organize regional rapprochement.

3. To educate people for peace and development.

4. To invest in the country's development and not in military affairs.

5. To work toward a humanitarian accord.

6. To consolidate a peace strategy.

7. To include actual factors of power in the negotiation.

8. To allow for international community participation".76}

VII. CONSEJO GREMIAL (COUNCIL OF ENTREPRENEURS)

During the forum "Business Agenda for Colombia" which gathered together more than 200 entrepreneurs in February 1998, the President of the Council of Entrepreneurs, Jaime Alberto Cabal, stated that the entrepreneurs are willing to finance the peace process.⁷⁷

^{"We
are willing to promote peace bonds if that shall help to speed up a reconciliation
process". In this way, the National Council of Entrepreneurs announced
its support to all serious peace initiatives. Entrepreneurs consider that
an initiative shall be the main objective of the incoming administration.}

^{The
industrialists and entrepreneurs point out that, since they contributed
to finance the fight against subversion through war bonds in the past,
they are now decided to help get the peace project off the ground by means
of this type of contribution.}

^{"During
many years, whether through taxes or special contributions, the private
sector has financed the current Colombian war; we believe that the time
to invest in peace has come. Therefore, in a serious process of negotiation
with the guerrilla, the private sector would be willing to study funding
schemes with the new Government where peace bonds could be a mechanism
allowing for the creation of a large fund with international contributions,
and these resources would finance a peace process."}

^{The
conclusions of the event, summarized in a nine-page document, shall be
handed to the Presidential and congressional candidates. Said proposals
restate the main concerns of the private sectors regarding the future
of the country.}

^{Mr.
Cabal also said that the resources shall be handled directly by the civilian
society, and not by the Government in power.}

^{Nevertheless,
the entrepreneurs assure that this proposal cannot be carried out until
considerable progress has been made in the negotiations. Luis Carlos Villegas,
the President of ANDI (National Association of Industrialists), says that,
"We cannot throw peace proposals out the window, as the Government
has done, without having a counter offer from the opposing side. This
only contributes to worsening the conflict".}

^{Mr.
Villegas declared that the entrepreneurs do not seek peace "either
through the surrender of the guerrilla or through the surrender of the
State. But we cannot limit ourselves to thinking about how many millions
of pesos each party shall put on the table during the negotiations. First
we need to see a willingness to negotiate and, then, we shall think about
how much it costs, because I am positive that we shall all have to pay:
entrepreneurs, Government and guerrilla."}

^{Mr.
Villegas adds that this objective can only be attained provided agreement
is reached. "Negotiated peace is the most desirable option and this
implies a process of agreements that the business sector is willing to
support."}

^{For
the economic leaders, "It is indispensable to put an end to the war,
attain peace and a National reconciliation, thus ensuring permanent co-existence
through political, economical and social reforms needed to create a new
platform of development and progress."}

^{The
Council of Entrepreneurs is also concerned about the guerrilla's unwillingness
to attain peace.}

^{The
Council urges for the respect of and compliance to the Mandate for
Peace, which was ratified by the votes of 10 million Colombians.}

^{VIII.
FEDERACIÓN COLOMBIANA DE GANADEROS - FEDEGAN - (COLOMBIAN CATTLE
BREEDERS FEDERATION)}

^{During
the "Production and Business Sectors and their Commitment to Peace"
Forum held on November 7, 1997, FEDEGAN, through its Executive
President, submitted the proposal called the "National Crusade
against Poverty", considering it the best way to contribute to
attaining peace.}

^{According
to FEDEGAN, "There are alternatives which can really transform
the country's rural life. They are not limited to turning poor people
without land into poor people with land as a result of an unsatisfactory
agrarian reform."}

^{"Peace,
the strongest yearning of all Colombians, demands that Colombian rural
areas have access to modernity. That is why it is urgent to start to transform
the backward rural towns and to convert our peasants into twenty-first
century citizens."}

^{A.
National Crusade against Poverty}

^{"The
production sector may present peace proposals, support governments and
even take part in negotiations, but none of that is new. The true commitment
of the group of Colombians which produces the largest portion of wealth
is to allocate part of it to carry out a National crusade against poverty."}

^{"Poverty
is a reality whose solution must be partly assumed by the production sector,
but this sector has to go beyond its conventional role of generating jobs
and undertaking altruistic charity programs; it must implement true justice
for the redistribution of wealth".}

^{B.
It Is not Just another Peace Proposal}

^{"Thus,
the launching of this crusade is not just another peace proposal. Many
former proposals were also valid and well-intentioned, but were limited
to negotiation procedures and the inevitable inclusion of an agrarian
reform as a panacea to solve violence and attain peace."}

^{The
base of the National Crusade against Poverty is the acknowledgment of
the need for the sectors which generate wealth to redistribute it, in
a show, not of generosity, but of unilateral unselfish justice, by donating
part of their capital and land to their dispossessed fellow countrymen.}

^{A "Social
Fund for Equity and Justice" shall be created using this enormous
transference, and it shall be managed by the civilian society and overseen
by the National Government which shall guarantee a concerted channeling
of these resources along with those of the National budget.}

^{The
creation of this large fund will attract the international community to
commit its economic support to eradicate poverty and attain peace. In
fact, the situation of poverty and backwardness in this country needs
a veritable Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Colombia.}

^{C.
Three Conditions}

^{1.
This commitment shall be shared by all sectors and economic groups, because
it is absurd to continue relying exclusively on the agrarian reform when
considering equity and the redistribution of assets in this country.}

^{2.
The second condition depends on the guerrilla. If they are really fighting
for justice and equity, then they shall join this crusade; and the only
way for them to do it is to stop their violent actions and, with no exception,
release all the people they have kidnapped.}

^{3.
The third condition depends on the Government, because a National crusade
of this magnitude cannot be carried out behind the Government's back,
and more importantly, because it is not the National Crusade's duty to
assume the Government's responsibilities nor to provide public resources.
On the contrary, the State must double its social investment in the rural
zones and in the cities in order to support this private sector initiative".}

^{IX.
PROGRAM FOR PEACE - THE COMPANY OF THE JESUITS}

^{"The
Program for Peace" was begun by the Jesuits in 1987 as a response
to the grave situation of injustice and generalized violence which was
bleeding the country. It intends to create a nation where life with dignity
is possible for everyone and it proclaims a supreme respect for human
life, as a fundamental value for the existence of the Nation.}

^{Its
mission is an effort to strengthen mediations which do not resort to the
use of force, abuse of authority or any other form of social, political,
economic or cultural violence. It supports and directly intervenes in
processes and projects which favor the active participation of the citizens
and institutions in peace-building."}